Learn / People who shaped Canada

Lester B. Pearson

14th Prime Minister · 1897-1972

A Nobel laureate who never won a majority and changed the country more than most who did.

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Life story

1. April 23, 1897 · Toronto
   Born at Newtonbrook, now part of Toronto
2. 1948 · Ottawa
   Became external affairs minister after a career as a diplomat
3. November 4, 1956 · United Nations, New York
   Proposed the UN Emergency Force that defused the Suez Crisis
4. December 10, 1957 · Oslo, Norway
   Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo
5. April 22, 1963 · Ottawa
   Became prime minister with a minority
6. February 15, 1965 · Ottawa
   Raised the maple leaf flag after six months of debate
7. 1966 · Ottawa
   Brought in medicare, the Canada Pension Plan and the Order of Canada
8. December 27, 1972 · Ottawa
   Died in Ottawa

In the timeline

• 1945 — Canada signs the UN Charter
• 1956 — Pearson invents peacekeeping
• 1962 — Medicare begins in Saskatchewan
• 1965 — The maple leaf flag
• 1967 — Expo 67

Sources

• Wikipedia article: Lester B. Pearson
• Dictionary of Canadian Biography
• The Canadian Encyclopedia